New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-28
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
~ II BISHOPS NEW STORY.

~,,,r COZ my JCsrICE by WILLIAM HENRY BISHOP.
1"D I2mo. pp. 1893. Hougbson, Mifin 20.
r Tb,,e IL an interesting psychological question az
Che base of Mr.. Bishops story. man whose gen.
.ral tendencies arc sound and good 10 moment OF
nassion does an act which results IN the death Oh
two men, He is wealthy Western man. One day
ba Is greatly enraged by the refusal of Transports
tion company to grant him certain terms i'll bust
ness Undertaking Going from the companys Office
he steps upon the draw of q bridge just AS 1t is
opening to give passage to steamer. Inc inah
working tho draw is seized by lit before he mas
cleared the passage and falls down. David Lane
the merchant springs to the lever OF the draw "
take the disabled bridge-tender's place. JUST '"'"
he sees that the steamer waIing 10 pass ~
to the corporation against which nc Is 50
On the impulse of the TOment no pushes 'no io'0,
t.e wrong way The 'teamer cannot oo s'oppo"
and crashes into the bridge he oridge-te"'o' l"
toLa, out of the wreck dead; fragment of The
latter kills passenger on the steamers anu L'N0
himself il desperately wounded
When he RECEIVERS consciousness and learns me
have, caused by his frenzy he is filled with horror
and remorse and tries to take the blame upon HIM
sef Bpt q whole story has already ceen SERTED
no the pnbc and no suspicion rests upon inc
popular and influential merchant. Fin"ing tba'
nobody regards his disjointed attempts at COMES
sion as evidence of yGhing but persistent deirum
resulting from his injuries he seeks compromise
with his conscience A guided statne of Justice Is
abont to be erected on the apex of the City Hall
DOME In the base of the statue box OF c0ntem
porary records, after the ancient conventional
cnstom is to be sealed up. In this box DAVID Lane
contrives to deposit written confession Oh tno
whole circumstances of the bridge disaster. and lie
tries to believe that in so doing he Is committing
fbe matter to Providence David Lane mas
dauobter who has made q bad marriage i'll Europe.
has been abandoned by her foreign husband, and
ha, returned TO Keewaydn to live with her father.
The latter's position becomes COMPLICATED oy the
fact that Paul Barclay son of the steamer pssseu-
g,r who was killed at the bridge, falls i'll love win
the deserted wife,
He opposes the growing familiarity OF the two,
bnt Mr. BishoI art sOmew hat fails in making clear
and plausible the old mans motives In this Inc
fact that he held himself accountable for the death
of Christopher Barclay does not appear suiDcleDt
explanation of his bitter opposition to the union OF
his daughter with Paul Barclay. He could hardly
ha We held that the responsibility extended to her,
nor could he save by a strangely warped line or
reasoning have considered it his duty to balk the
son of hi, happiness because he had already killed
the father There is an nsuiciency of motive here
which interferes with the naturalness OF the story,
otherwise much to be commended both for the sub
tlety of its intellectual side and the graphic vigor
of its description and general increment. Certain
phases Of Western life are sketched, though with
free hand vet so faithfully AS to indicate conscen-
tious preparatory study on the part of the author
and the account of the tornado spirited, carefni
and strong piece of work. Perhaps the catasuo-
pbe which reveals the secret of the Golden Justice
IL sensational but the surprises and condolences of
real life more than justify the employment of such
ipsrrumentalities in fiction. There is freshness OF
conception, smoothness OF execution. and power IN
Mr. Bishops story. 1t is clever and interesting
novel.